Chooga Chooga Choo Choo

The kids and I went on a train ride in the Blue Ridge Mountains with a group from our church.  It was a beautiful fall day and we had lots of fun.

Dee, a church member who worked with the kids when we first started at the church and who planned the train ride, carpooled with us.  We ended up taking another lady from church named Susan.  I had met her before and am FB "friends" but didn't know her very well.  It was nice to get to chat with her on the way there and back.  Adrienne also came along.

Dee asked if she could borrow my kids for a minute.  This is what she had them do.

Then we went to lunch.  We found this restaurant.  I the name was New Orleans something or other.  The inside was very quaint with dining room furniture one might find in a home.  We were seated by the fireplace.  We thought it was an old home, but when we asked we found out it was actually built about eight years ago, but was made to look like an old home as to fit into the town.

I got brave and ordered a Gator Tail Po' Boy.  It tasted like dark meat chicken, but a bit more gamey.  I didn't care for the sauce.  I can say, "I have eaten gator."

Aaron and Hannah are big fans of a television show called, "Finding Bigfoot."  One of the episodes was taped in north Georgia, so Aaron thought he might spot a Bigfoot on the trip.  We were all laughing when someone dressed as a Yeti for the Halloween weekend and Aaron got his picture made.  We are told it is rare to spot a Bigfoot, but it isn't even heard of to spot a Yeti in north Georgia.  Ha, ha!

Here are the kids in front of our rail car.  We chose the open air car.  There are no windows and the seats face the sides of the car.  The seats in the enclosed cars face the front of the train.

Here's one with the kids, Dee, Adrienne and Chad.  Chad came along with his grandparents, but they were riding in one of the enclosed cars.  We thought it would be fun to let him ride with the kids.  They all enjoyed some hot chocolate at the beginning of the ride.

This is a spot on the river along the ride.  There are rocks where the water makes a "V."  They were placed there by Native Americans about 500 years ago.  Fish would get trapped and caught in nets.

When the train reached the destination we walked around a little town and shopped.  Dee found these adorable little hats and they were only $5.00.  She bought one for herself and Hannah.

Rachel is being silly.

We didn't spot any real bears, but Aaron is doing his best impression.

As we were walking, we saw signs for fried Oreos!  Really!?!?!?  They looked like a cream puff covered in powdered sugar.  I had a bite of Rachel's.  It was of course very rich and very tasty.  Here Rachel and Adrienne are enjoying theirs.

Hannah and Aaron getting in on the fried Oreos.

Hannah wanted me to take her picture with the "creepy Indian."  We left this shop and when we got on the train, Dee had candy for the kids from the shop owner.  She asked Dee if she knew us and wanted the kids to have candy because they were so well behaved in the store!!



Rachel with another statue in the store.

We returned to the train depot at the beginning of the line and checked out the gift shop.  Then we went to one of the local stores and bought some fudge.  We were all exhausted, but it was a great day.  I hope we can go back again.